News
CNPP Condemns Detention of
Senator Ibrahim Musa
Written by Chuks Ehirim, Abuja
Conference of Nigerian Political Parties {CNPP}, last week
reacted to an order of a Minna Magistrate Court, remanding
Senator Ibrahim Musa of the Congress for Progressive Change
(CPC) in prison custody.
According to reports, the Chief Magisrate, Zainab Tahir Gani,
refused an oral application for bail filed by Mr Mohammed Sani
who led a team of other lawyers to defend the Senator. The law
maker was charged with four counts of alleged criminal
conspiracy, forgery, etc.
But reacting to the development, the CNPP, through its National
Publicity secretary, Mr Osita Okechukwu, said it is tantamount
to the return of the dark days of dictatorship in Nigeria.
The body said it ‘‘is outraged over the return of the dark ages;
as evidenced by the unlawful detention of Senator Ibrahim Musa,
of Congress of Progressive Change, representing Niger State
North Senatorial District''.
The statement complained that ''the Chief Magistrate, Zainab
Tahir Gani, of Magistrate Court V,had since Monday 11 July 2011,
ordered Senator Ibrahim to be remanded in prison custody
following his arraignment for forgery, at Court odd hour of
5.45pm''.
It added that ''CNPP is worried for the apostles of
One-Party-State are at it again, hunting opposition legislators,
manipulating the levers of power and making sure that members
are above the law. Hence opposition legislators have been at the
receiving end of both the Nigeria Police Force and the
judiciary''.
''Otherwise if Senator Musa is a member of the Peoples
Democratic Party {PDP}, could the Police Prosecutor have the
guts to deliberately arraign him in an ungodly hour in a Court
of doubtful jurisdiction or the Court denies him bail on self
recognition?''
''The other day it was Chief Solomon Ewuga that was denied
issuance of Certificate of Return by the Independent National
Electoral Commission {INEC}, after victory at the Election
Tribunal''.
''It is our considered view that freedom is a core ingredient of
democracy and should never be tampered with, especially in this
trying times when the fault lines are widening, no matter what
political capital any power monger wants to harvest''.
CNPP also demanded for the immediate release from detention, of
Senator Musa. It also called on the Chief Magistrate to hands
off the case as she has proven incapable of saving the cause of
justice. ''We accordingly call for Senator Ibrahim Musa’s
immediate release and Chief Magistrate Zainab Tahir Gani to
withdraw from the case; as she cannot serve the cause of justice
in this instance'', it said.
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